Project Europe – First encounter of missionaries present in Europe

Rome, Salesianum

November 25-27,2011

(40 min + 20 min open forum)

2^nd Theme

Sending and Welcoming of the Missionaries in Europe:

Challenges and Opportunities

Dear friends!

1. Introduction

Almost four years passed since the General Chapter 26 deliberated the Project Europe in March of 2008, as one of the ‘new frontiers’ of the Congregation. Without doubt one of the three main goals of the Project Europe ‘Europe – Mission territory’ helped the visibility of the PE within and outside the Salesian Congregation. Sometimes this goal offers even the only opportunity how to start a talk among the Salesians about the Project Europe. In the same time we should acknowledge, that we tackle also rather difficult issue for all who are involved: for the confreres – missionaries who are arriving to European provinces and also for those who are welcoming and accompanying them during the first years of their stay in Europe.

As Councilor for the Missions I was asked to address the topic of sending and welcoming the missionaries in Europe many times: during the visit in the provinces who already have the missionaries in their midst, during some team visits in five regions of the Congregations, in personal dialogue or conferences given to the confreres during past two years.

Indeed to be a missionary in Europe is not too much different from being sent as missionary to some other continent: the need of formation before departure, to know to cope with a cultural shock, learn a new languages and need to be committed to the inculturation in the new country. In the same time we find some specific elements that we will tackle during our reflection today. We would like to face the challenges as opportunities for our growth in order to make one more step ahead in the dynamics of Project Europe.

First of all European continent is still a land of origin of many missionaries ad gentes who are working in other continents. In the same time we could not deny that in many (Western) European countries we find already 15% of the diocesan clergy of foreign origin, especially from non European countries. For example also in Italy we find some 2000 ‘fidei donum’ -diocesan clergy coming from abroad, in the same time about 900 Italian ‘fidei donum’ priest are working as missionaries out of Italy. The missions are becoming multidirectional. We should acknowledge that not all of our confreres are aware about this reality. A wider outlook at the Project Europe in the context of changing geography of the Church and Consecrated life will help us to keep more balanced vision of the whole topic.

2. Expectations and reflections about ‘Sending and Welcoming missionaries in Europe’

During six months of preparation for this encounter we have collected some expectation from your provinces. It’s useful to share them:

Expectations of the missionaries: How to help adaptation to the European cultures or the path of inculturation in Europe? How to improve the inter-cultural communications with the youth and lay mission partners in Europe?

Expectations of the European provincials or those who accompany the missionaries: How to build environment for the integration of the missionaries and European confreres? How to find proper ways in the initial formation of the missionaries (scrutiny, formation programs)?

Expectations of the provincial delegates of missionary animation: How can the missionaries present in Europe contribute to the missionary animation (in their provinces of origin as well in the present provinces)? Obviously a missionary present in Europe could impact a lot on the Project Europe image in the non European provinces or become a catalyst of the missionary dynamics in Europe.

On other side the Councilor for Missions shared already some reflections on the institutional level with the Provincial Councils or Provincials of Europe. All these materials are available in the digital continent (Agora of www.sdb.org - Europe missionary territory, Migrantes.

1. Report for the European meeting of Provincials (Project Europe, Nov 2010) ‘Europe – mission land’ with some attachments: Discernment of missionary vocation for PE, List of missionaries sent to European provinces between 2002-2010 (update 2011), Frame for accompaniment of new missionaries.

2. Talk ‘Europe mission land’ shared during the Western Europe team visit (Lyon, August 2010)

3. Reflection for the migrant ministry in Europe 2012 (Project Europe Commission meeting, Santiago de Compostella, Aug 2010)

Beyond that I was able to gather some materials during my two visits of animation (2008/2011) to the provinces which already have received some missionaries (AUS, BEN, CEP, GBR, ICP, IRL, UNG): contributions of individual missionaries, summary of meetings. We can trace a slow, but clear progress in all respective provinces in welcoming, forming and helping the better integration of the missionaries.

3. Some steps or elements of the Sending and Welcoming missionaries in Europe

As a matter of fact in past ten years (2002/2011) were sent some 80 confreres to the European provinces if we count also the respective mission outreach of 28 provinces in other continents. About 20 missionaries are not any more present in the original destinations for different reasons (13 returned to their provinces of origin, 3 received another missionary destination, 2 died and 2 left the congregation: cfr. the Attachment).

After an ‘official’ start of the PE arrived some 40 missionaries in seven European provinces. We can point out some elements of the ‘welcoming – receiving’ dynamics of the missionaries in Europe:

There are not some gradual step-to-step stages, but as any path or process we tackle a cycle movement which growth together, with the interaction of the different elements:

1. Request to the Rector Major to send missionaries (Project, Application)

2. Evaluation of the request, annual list of the mission urgent priorities (RM update)

3. Journey of Project Europe missionary vocation discernment

4. Formation of the new missionaries before send off (province of origin, course in Rome)

5. Preparation, welcoming and accompaniment of the new missionaries in Europe

6. Integration or deeper involvement in the Europe province mission

We should recognize that Project Europe is still at the beginning and we have no similar point of reference and all six above mentioned elements are not completely clear to all parts involved. At the present time all six elements are part of ongoing reflection, evaluation and improvement. Also our reflection here in Rome is an important contribution to the journey of European provinces.

4. Some challenges and opportunities met in the European provinces

1. Request to the Rector Major for sending new missionaries to the Province (‘Projects’)

During first two years some 11 requests from 9 Provinces did reached the Rector Major (AUS, BEN, CEP, FRB, GBR, ICC, IME, ILE, IRL). In the PE Commission meeting (January 2010, Fatima) a sample format how to present the projects in the future was made.

Request format for the European provinces for the PE is addressed to the Rector Major and presented in the format of a ‘project’. Each project contains only one single reality. Basic elements of each project description:

(1) Call of God and the background

What is the Province called for with this project and how the project is placed within the life and works, and priority fields of the Provincial plan?

(2) Situation and challenges

What is the situation of the Province as regard this specific project?

(3) Goal(s) or Focus of the project

In which fields or works wants the Province concentrate the personnel and resources for this project?

What is the mission today? What perspectives for this mission? What immediate concrete steps of this plan/project? What is the medium-term or long-term plan?

(4) Confreres requested an motivation for their request

(5) Specific traits (capacity, background) of the confreres requested for the project

(6) Welcome and follow up of the newcomers

How the Province intends to welcome, form and accompany the new missionaries?

Main challenge is a lack of clarity or focus of some projects sent to the Rector Major. The project is a point of departure for a path in the Provinces. In this sense a re-view of the Project after few years, helped also by the newly arrived missionaries might be very useful.

At times the missionary brings some fresh educative – pastoral dynamics in the European context (ex: Basic ecclesial communities, missionary commitment of lay leaders, energies of the migrant communities recently arrived to Europe.

4.2 Evaluation of the request, annual list of the mission urgent priorities (RM update)

The requests are not easy to be evaluated or prioritized. Some kind of implicit reply to the provincial requests is the annual list of missionary urgent needs of the Congregation, updated by the Rector Major every year in July in view of the following year missionary expedition.

So far the list is the only tool known in all Provinces of the Congregation. Some provinces are however asking some more details about the ‘projects description’.

EUROPE – Project Europe – in view of the 2012 missionary expedition
AUS Austria	German	Youthcenter – Oratory, Parishes, Migrant work, Sales.Youth Movement
BEN Belgium	Flemish	Migrant works, need to build up International communities
CEP Bulgary	Bulgarian, Gypsie	Need to build up international communities; work for the Gypsies
EST Russia	Russian	Moscow, Gatchina, Rostov (School, Youth Center, Parish)
FRB- France, Belgium	French	Parish migrant population (France), School, Youth Center (Bruxelles)
GBR- Great Britain	English	Schools, Spirituality Center, Migrants, Need of young SDB (Afr,EU)
IRL - Ireland	English	School – Parish – Youth Center, Apostolate among theUniv.students
IME Albania, Kosovo	Albanian, Italian	First evangelization, few personnel, especially lay brothers
ICC Italy - Migrants	Italian, Span, English	Project Genova (Ecuadorians), Project Sacro Cuore (Rome-migrants)

From the operative point of view the request reaching the Rector Major should be prioritized

according the PE Commission in these categories:

(A) Requests for the very urgent projects (absolute lack of personnel, especially young SDB)

(B) Request for the important but not so urgent projects (re-dimensioning of the Province)

(C) Request for the important projects, with very specific qualities (capacity, language) for long term needs.

Hence, in the list of the Rector major for next year of 2012 we don’t’ find all provinces which requested the missionaries.

3. Discernment path of Project Europe missionary vocation

Main difficulty is simply the lack of explicit missionary candidates offering themselves to the Rector Major for the Project Europe. In some non European regions the young confreres are ‘frightened’ by the superficial image of ‘secularized Europe’. Some provinces express certain discrimination experienced in the past when studying or doing their practical training in Europe. Due to the lack of explicit candidates for the PE, the Missions Councilors starts personal ‘online dialogue’ with the apparently suitable candidates who show some necessary characteristics needed for the PE. A short list of Criteria for discernment of PE missionary vocation is offered to all provinces, as one of contributions of the dialogue in the provinces:

Qualities expressed by the European provinces receiving the missionaries:

• Know how to work within a secularized, consumerist culture (poverty witness)

• Know how to work with the lay mission partners in our works (school, social work)

• Creativity and enthusiasm, flexibility in the adaptation to the cultures and youth

• Know how to learn also from the local Salesian culture (charismatic richness, sanctity)

Qualities expressed by the new missionaries present in Europe

• A robust Salesian vocation (openness towards others, mature interpersonal relationship, spirit of prayer, joyful character)

• Humble and patient in helping the local Salesian as protagonist: ‘Europe is evangelized mainly by the Europeans’.

• Due openness and flexibility in the adaptation to the European cultures which is a life long process.

It might be very useful to deepen reflection about motivations of missionary vocation in Europe and the ‘vital’ expectations of our missionaries. Sometimes we need a long journey of deepening the initial motivation in the real context of Europe.

3. Formation of the new missionaries before send off (provinces of origin, course in Rome)

Before when a confrere arrives for the new missionary course in Rome or directly to his provinces of destination, he is asked to learn a new language and research about some basic informations about his new country or province in Europe. Some European provinces are very helpful sending immediately some language course CDs or basic informations about their culture, Salesian work etc.

The course for the new missionaries (4 weeks, each September, Rome-Turin) offers general elements especially in the first ‘cultural’ nucleus (one week): basic indications to understand the cultural elements, dynamics, values, shock, inculturation, Gospel – culture relations). From the year 2009 we have included some specific interventions for the Project Europe missionaries along with a presence of a first Indian rector in Europe, with a presence of GBR provincial during the course and one specific module about education / evangelization in the European context.

4.5 Preparation, welcoming and accompaniment of the new missionaries in Europe

For sure the first step from the part of the receiving province is to raise awareness of all confreres before the arrival of the missionaries. For example in the year of 2005 the Provincial of Hungary asked all confreres, Salesian Family and lay mission partners to pray before the arrival of the first Vietnamese and Indian confreres. Simple fact, that the whole provincial community ‘wants to welcome’ the missionaries (ownership) is very important.

Accompaniment of the practical trainees or students of theology coming from other provinces of Europe or out of Europe at times does not look much different from the attention to the newly arrived missionaries. Sometimes especially senior confreres are not able to understand and distinguish the heart of a young missionary, who made a ‘life option’ to live and die in his new country or province from any student who will after two years returned back to his home country.

We are at the beginning of the PE. Even to get a long term visa for the new missionaries in some cases we spent 11 months. Some provinces are very well organized, some are slowly getting organized and some could be a model for the others.

As one of the first tools to foster a good level of welcoming and accompanying in the first months of the stay the check list produced by GBR province is a model example (2009). On the other side we still miss some good programs for the missionaries in first year(s) after their arrival: cultural nucleus, Salesian nucleus (not only reading, talks, but also a visit to the main works of the provinces), ecclesial and youth ministry nucleus. Quite well tailored program of the China province (2009) might be a good point of reference for us.

Personal accompaniment (spiritual guide, formator, provincial), accopaniment at the provincial level (Project Europe in charge, delegate of the Provincial, regular meetings of all missionaries present in the province) are already good practices in some provinces.

Majority of the new missionaries arrives during the period of initial formation. Hence an open questions about the place of specific formation studies (theology) is coming out. Apart of Jerusalem we have no other option of English study center in Europe. We have different solutions (FRB – Lyon, Catholic University; AUS – Wien, Catholic University, UNG – Budapest, Major seminary interdiocesan/ inter-congregational) of theology in local languages. In these situations more care about the Salesian studies will be very important.

4.6 Integration or deeper involvement in the Europe province mission

Even if only one single missionary arrives in a monocultural province of Europe, the Province is changing. In that specific moment are starting some multicultural dynamics, inter – action between different cultures (both ecclesial and Salesian). The process of integration within one province does need always a commitment from both sides.

This last element seems be more challenging for priests or brothers with perpetual vows who are arriving to Europe. Not unlike practical trainees or students of theology they expect a ‘fast’ involvement and some achievement in the pastoral ministry as soon as possible.

There is a need to work simultaneously on both sides in the long journey of real integration in the European provinces. I would like bring to your attention some points which need an open dialogue to be faced honestly in the family spirit. At the level of the province we would need some institutional platform (encounters, bring the finding to the attention of the rectors and the provincial council, provincial newsletter…):

• From the missionaries side we need an ongoing, patient and humble effort to know better the local language, culture and situation of the new province. The welcoming provinces would need to carry on an ongoing help in the inculturation process of the missionaries.

• As in other parts of the Salesian world we need to avoid the temptations of the provinces to ‘integrate’ the missionaries as simple ‘adjustment’ to the customary way of living and ministry in the province ‘as we did always’. On other hand the missionaries are expected to bring with humility and creativity the rich heritage of the Salesian charism from their home province or home country, avoiding the temptation to adapt themselves to the ‘easy way of life’ in consumerist societies of Europe or simple ‘accept without a critical approach the way of life and mission they find in their new provinces.

• The European provinces would need a deep awareness that with the arrival of first missionaries their province receives a rich cultural and Salesian heritage, the missionaries need patience in discerning their specific contribution to the life and mission of new place.

4. Opportunities which need a special attention

Each challenge offers also a wonderful opportunity. There are some opportunities to develop which emerged already during past three years. I would like simply listen some of these opportunities for your attention and deepening in your provinces:

.

1. Missionaries present in Europe might foster the vital communication of Project Europe in non European provinces. Communicating in a personal way to their home provinces they might help to clear some doubts and objections regarding Project Europe. Ignorance or only partial understanding of the complex PE dynamics is communicated through them in more credible, convincing and immediate manner.

2. Many non european provinces do worry that their missionaries sent to Europe will be not welcomed or not well accompanied by both sending and receiving provinces. Some even fear that they might be treated badly or discriminated (10/38 provinces expressed this worry during 2010, July / October survey).

3. During personal meetings with PE missionaries I felt often this essential doubt: What kind of specific contribution can offer the new missionaries? Concretely they asked how an African, Asian or American Salesian can exercise some impact within the context of European cultures. These doubt show us already some opportunities or path to follow in the future.

4. On the operative level we see a need of systematic exchange of experiences between the European provincials, formators or in charge of the missionary accompaniment. I expect one of the fruit of this encounter more networking among the provinces, more regular exchange of experiences, programs and materials – especially fostering among nearby provinces.

5. Our commitment for and with the migrants in Europe offers really to the Salesian mission many opportunities also in the field of vocational promotion. Thanks to the missionary confreres we might stay closer to some ethnic migrant migrant communities, that are a good pastoral resource.

6. Integration of the recently arrived missionaries in Europe in provincial commissions or groups of reflection does offer also different opportunities already taking place in some provinces (GBR – formation commission, FRB – social communications).

5. Conclusion – Questions for the group work

We are probably the first international congregation which launched a larger Project to relaunch from within (endogenous revitalization) the Charism in European continent. After the GC26 in 2008 not a few other religious congregations started with similar motivations their ‘Project Europe’. It is a prophetic sign which requires a lot of faith, courage and patience on the way.

For the deepening and digestion of this theme I would suggest 3 questions for group work”

1. Which are the two main challenges within the dynamics of sending and welcoming the missionaries in Europe? And why?

2. Which are the two main opportunities which we find in the dynamics of sending and receiving of the missionaries in Europe? And why?

3. Which among the six elements of the ‘sending – welcoming’ of the missionaries in Europe would need a particolar attention? Any concrete suggestions for improvement at the personal, provincial or congregational level?